Kid "leashes"

[bella2117]

I got a runner on my hands. We are doing disney for the first time in September. Would I be looked down upon if I strapped one of those backpack leashes on my 3 year old? I also have a 5 year old but he's not a runner. My DS won't even let us hold his hand! He's on this independent phase which is great but when we are in a packed place I totally have trouble having him hold our hands or stay in the carriage. Does anyone else backpack their kids?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Do what is best for your kid and keeps your kid safest. Don't worry about what anyone thinks. You will see tons of the backpack leashes at the parks.

And a friendly word of advice, this becomes a HOT topic very quickly on these boards. Don't take it personally if someone condemns you for even thinking about using one.

 

[bella2117]

Do what is best for your kid and keeps your kid safest. Don't worry about what anyone thinks. You will see tons of the backpack leashes at the parks.

And a friendly word of advice, this becomes a HOT topic very quickly on these boards. Don't take it personally if someone condemns you for even thinking about using one.

Thanks I found out quickly coming to these boards that I can't let people's opinions get the best of me. It's nice to see everyone's side tho. Gives you food for thought. They have such fun creative ways nowadays to make it fun for the kids to be harnessed that Im not to worried now about people staring. I saw on an older post people were very pro harness so that made me feel better to. Thank you again

 

[oneprincessjo]

I got a runner on my hands. We are doing disney for the first time in September. Would I be looked down upon if I strapped one of those backpack leashes on my 3 year old? I also have a 5 year old but he's not a runner. My DS won't even let us hold his hand! He's on this independent phase which is great but when we are in a packed place I totally have trouble having him hold our hands or stay in the carriage. Does anyone else backpack their kids?

I swore up and down that I would NEVER be one of "those" parents. Seriously, who would put their kid on a leash??? Well, I am dealing with the same issue, my dd will be 2 1/2 the next time we go down and she too is a runner and won't hold your hand at all. It was practically a curse word when I told my husband that I think we should definitely have a leash on hand, especially after an afternoon at the car dealership one day, she just wanted freedom in a very dangerous area... I would have given anything to have a leash at that point, so after a discussion with my husband we will be getting one for our next trip, if it gets to the point where she wants freedom and we are in a deep sea of people we will be using it. I no longer have that "I would never do that to my kid" mentality, now that I have a kid I GET IT! LOL. You will see a ton of kids with the backpack leashes, and sure some people will look at you funny, a couple years ago I would have been one if them, now I think it's genius.

 

[Dsnyfireman]

We used one, the only thing I had issues with was our leash part was a little long, and our dd would be at the end of it someone ( not seeing her and just walking) would walk between me and her and get caught up in the leash. I just shortened it up and it was fine. She liked the "freedom" she felt she had and I had a good hold on her. So use them and don't worry about others. Have fun !

 

[MSSANDRA]

The most important thing is to keep you child safe and if that is what it takes, then as a parent that is what you need to do. I would not try to make it a "fun" thing but rather something he must wear until you can trust him and I would continue to teach him that running away is NOT ok and he must learn to hold your hand BUT some children just resist at every step and WDW is not the place to teach a lesson, but to keep him safe and have fun!!!

Be very careful using the lease and keep the lease short and still insist that he hold your hand. I have seen both kids on leases fall, and trip other people so be alert at all time. You will of course still want a stroller and during very busy times, strap him into it, happy or not.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Would I be looked down upon if I strapped one of those backpack leashes on my 3 year old?

I found out quickly coming to these boards that I can't let people's opinions get the best of me. )

These two lines seem to contradict each other. If you really don't care what people think then why ask the question? Why does it even matter what other people think? Aren't you going to teach your kid to do what is right and safest, not what complete strangers think is best for him?

Follow your gut, and don't care what other people think about leashes or any other parenting decision you make. Make a decision based on what is best for you and your family.

 

[brooke789]

I've never used one (although I own two). One of my 2 year old twins is a runner. And the other can take off when it looks like her brother is having fun... fun times

Anyway, at DTD during our trip my DS ran out in front of a bus. DH literally caught him by his neck (actually hurt him a little) and barely kept him out of the road and from almost right in front of a bus. If we'd been using a harness that wouldn't have happened.

I don't think I'd use one around the park, but where it is a true safety issue like waiting for buses, walking through parking lots, etc I would do it!

 

[mamahas5]

At the parks the kid attracting my attention is the runner that makes me think "I hope his parents catch him before he gets too far", not the kid safely tethered to Mom or Dad. It's far more stressful dealing with a wanderer than it is to brush off some reproachful glances you may receive from some complete stranger who probably doesn't have kids anyway!

 

[Missyk1124]

We were just at the parks two weeks ago and used a monkey backpack with a tail leash for our 2 1/2 year old. It was a life saver! She loved wearing it and calls it her monkey. We still held her hand when walking around but she has been known to run when given the chance and it was great piece of mind. We had several people comment positively on what a great idea it is. If it makes you feel better about your child's safety then it is worth it.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

We were just at the parks two weeks ago and used a monkey backpack with a tail leash for our 2 1/2 year old. It was a life saver! She loved wearing it and calls it her monkey. We still held her hand when walking around but she has been known to run when given the chance and it was great piece of mind. We had several people comment positively on what a great idea it is. If it makes you feel better about your child's safety then it is worth it.

We have 3 kids and used the monkey backpack with the one we had that was a runner. He loved it and it worked great! As for what other people think.... who cares, if it keeps your child safe and makes your vacation better for you family then do it.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

We used one for my son when he was 18 months. He wanted to walk. Everywhere! But my husband and I ended up walking like Quasimodo leaning down to hold his hand.

Once we put the leash on him, I happily ignored the couple of comments that wafted by and just relished the restored ability to stand up straight.

You'll make the right call for you, but I think it's worth a try

 

[Aliceacc]

People who have never needed one will judge. And that's fine. Once they walk past, you'll still have a safe toddler and they'll go on and find a reason to judge the next person they see.

The people who have been there will smile.

Do what's necessary to keep your family safe.

 

[EagleScout]

I think most negative looks you would receive, if anything, are sympathy for having a child who is a handful, or empathy becaus e their own kids are/were similar and this is a reminder. We were just there last week, and maybe five percent were on leashes - a minority, but enough that it is pretty common. And plenty others were on parent "death grips", etc.

 

[luvmy2babies]

from a parent of a recovering runner.

We have the puppy harness. My son loves him. Fortunately he also loves his stroller so when I have it, he is more than willing to ride in it, which isn't the case for a lot of runners. I've never regretted using it. I have regretted not having it at times.

He is now beginning to understand it isn't funny to run off. He will sometimes channel the energy into jumping around where he is standing. And he's more willing to hold hands now.

Do what you feel is best, just keep it at a length that will keep him close to you and not trip either of you and it will be fine.

 

[Gracie09]

We have used handles for our girls. They hold them and I hold my own and away we go. It works for us because the girls know that if they let go of their handles they go into the stroller or home.

 

[bella2117]

We have used handles for our girls. They hold them and I hold my own and away we go. It works for us because the girls know that if they let go of their handles they go into the stroller or home.

I like this idea! I might try this at home and see how it goes.

 

[bella2117]

I think most negative looks you would receive, if anything, are sympathy for having a child who is a handful, or empathy becaus e their own kids are/were similar and this is a reminder. We were just there last week, and maybe five percent were on leashes - a minority, but enough that it is pretty common. And plenty others were on parent "death grips", etc.

Oh I'm so familiar with the death grip. My DS knows when the death grip comes out I mean business but I don't want to do that the whole trip.

 

[dragonfly08]

DD #1 went on her first Disney trip at 17 months old. She wasn't a big runner, but hated strollers and was definitely in an independent phase where she wanted to walk by herself. In a place as crowded as WDW, even walking right next to me wasn't safe enough, IMO...too easy for someone to get between us and separate us.

So even though I'd always sworn I wouldn't put my kid on a leash, I bought one. And while I had it (I lost it on a bus two days into the trip!), it was a lifesaver. Especially in the airport since this was before ME so we had to get our own luggage then wait for a Mears bus going to our resort. DD had enough freedom to be happy during the wait, and DH and I were able to juggle the bags and keep her safe at the same time.

 

[laurab84]

we have a tiger one which we use all the time. our ds is a runner! he got away from me in our local shop and nearly went under the wheels of a fast moving car. if I'd have been 1 second later catching hold of him he'd have been a gonner. now he always wears it! it's a tiger and I hold the tail. I've never heard anything negative about its use at all from others.


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